Superintendent's Memo #065-11

SUBJECT: Joint Agreement on Virginia’s College and Career Ready English and Mathematics Performance Expectations

Over the last three years, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), with its agency partners, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) and the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), has been working on the Virginia College and Career Readiness Initiative (CCRI) to understand factors associated with success after high school, and to improve upon high school graduates’ preparation for postsecondary education and careers. Through this cooperative effort, VDOE, VCCS, and SCHEV have agreed upon the Virginia College and Career Ready Performance Expectations in English and mathematics. These performance expectations define the content and level of achievement in English and mathematics that high school graduates must meet to be successful in entry-level, credit-bearing college courses or in further career training. They are aligned to state, national, and international college and career readiness standards. The English and Mathematics Performance Expectations are available on the Web at http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/college_career_readiness/index.shtml#expectations. A copy of the Joint Agreement on Virginia's College and Career Ready Mathematics and English Performance Expectations is available at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/college_career_readiness/expectations/joint_agreement.pdf.

The completion of the English and mathematics performance expectations finalizes work that is one of five components of Virginia’s College and Career Readiness Initiative. In support of the initiative, the Department continues to conduct research to further understand secondary educational factors associated with postsecondary success. The Department, in collaboration with its partners, has also made progress on several other components of the initiative. The work includes developing content for senior year courses to help more students prepare for college and careers, and the establishment of educator professional development opportunities that focus on providing teachers with the tools and skills needed to help more students reach college-ready achievement levels. An update on all five components of Virginia’s College and Career Readiness Initiative can be found in the February presentation to the Board of Education, at: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/boe/meetings/2011/02_feb/agenda_items/item_m.pdf

For more information about Virginia’s College and Career Readiness Initiative, please visit http://www.doe.virginia.gov/instruction/college_career_readiness/index.shtml, or contact Dr. Deborah Jonas, executive director, Research and Strategic Planning, by e-mail at Deborah.Jonas@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 225-2067. For more information about the College and Career Ready English Performance Expectations, please contact Tracy Robertson, English coordinator, Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction, by e-mail at Tracy.Robertson@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 371-7585. For more information about the College and Career Ready Mathematics Performance Expectations, please contact Michael Bolling, mathematics coordinator, Office of Standards, Curriculum, and Instruction, by e-mail at Michael.Bolling@doe.virginia.gov or by telephone at (804) 786-6418.